Water Websites - Frequently Asked Questions
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Q: Who actually delivers this service?
The service is delivered by Rural Water Impact (RWI) under a contract directly between your water system and RWI. RWI has considerable experience in providing website subscription services to community water systems. You can read about the really positive experience of other water systems with this service on the RWI website.
Q: How do I get started with this service?
Follow this link to the Choose a Plan page: Choose a Plan OR
Call Shelly Howay at: 888 551 4815 ext. 5 or email: Contact@RuralWaterImpact.com
Q: Does our water system really need a web site?
More and more of your customers will prefer to go online for information about their water supply and to pay their bills. Having an accessible website allows you to post up-to-date water system information and can help you to maintain compliance with regulations. And the opportunity for your customers to subscribe to your website and receive important alerts and news via email and text is an incredible communication tool. The benefits are many, and with no contracts or cancellation fees, it’s risk free!
Q: Does the website subscription service work well for water systems throughout Canada?
Absolutely; through our partnership with RWI, we are pleased to bring you a website service to meet the needs of Canadian water systems in all regions of the country. We can readily accommodate the variation in requirements between different sizes and kinds of water systems. Together with RWI We have carefully considered how websites should work, as well as the look and feel appropriate for community water systems. This service is well-established in other areas of North America.
Q: Are there ever any upgrade or maintenance fees?
No; the hosted solution is continually being improved, so all upgrades and improvements are available automatically to all subscribers.
Q: Can we keep our current website address?
Yes; RWI will help you redirect your domain name to your new site so your customers can continue to find you at the same web address as before.
Q: Do we have to move our email service, too?
No – it’s usually easiest to keep using the email service you currently have. But if you do need email service then we recommend Gmail (a free Google service).
Q: Do we need to have a hosting account for our site?
No. The website solution is completely hosted with a premier server provider. So there is no need for you to maintain additional website hosting.
Q: How does having a website save us money?
To start: a really good website gives your customers 24/7 access to your forms and reports, rates and policies, alerts, news and conservation tips, and bill payment information. By making all this information available online, you increase customer satisfaction and minimize the support calls you receive. Also, if you’re able to post certain documents online instead of sending them out by mail, then the money you save on postage alone may pay for your website several times over. Furthermore, offering online bill payments (optional) helps streamline your collections. These are just a few ways.
Q: How exactly do I make edits to my site?
Simply log into your private Client Dashboard, and find the page or information you wish to edit, type in the change and hit “Update”. If you can fill out a form or use Microsoft Word, then you already have all the skill you need to maintain your own site. Please note: website footers, privacy policies, monthly articles, and terms of use cannot be edited or removed.
Q: How much does a website for my water system cost; do you have lower or higher priced options?
All sites come with the same features. Canadian water systems enjoy the benefit of a tiered pricing system linked to the size of the water system. There’s a one-time set up fee. And you have the option of a Quarterly or Annual Subscription. Annual Subscriptions receive one month of service for free! Follow the Pricing Page link below for more information.
Q: We have a very small system and limited budget; can you accommodate us?
Yes. As noted, Canadian water systems enjoy the benefit of a tiered pricing system with the fee based on the size of their system. All Canadian water systems receive one month of service free when they choose to sign up for an annual subscription. In addition, all new website subscribers will receive a 14 Day Free Trial beginning the minute they sign up. This gives you a total of 6 weeks of website service for free with an annual subscription. See the Pricing page for complete information.
Q: How reliable is your hosting? Will our website be secure and backed up regularly?
The servers reside in state-of-the-art fibre optic network operations centres and have redundant, high-speed connections to the Internet backbone. All your data is secure and all files are backed up on a daily basis. The platform and customer sites are stored with a premier hosting provider. In the event of a power outage, backup generators and uninterruptible power supplies are in place to ensure seamless service for you and your customers. As a result, you are provided with a 99.9% uptime assurance for your website.
Q: I don’t know the first thing about setting up a website. How exactly do I get started?
That’s okay; you will be amazed at how simple it is. To get your website started, go to the Choose a Plan page. Click on the “Sign Up” button at the top of the screen. Next, choose your subscription plan, and complete the payment form. Then, click to submit the brief System Profile. The whole process takes about 5 minutes or less.
Q: How soon will our site be ready?
Once you subscribe and submit your brief System Profile, your site will be launched within two business days from the time your profile is received..
Q: Is this too good to be true? How can you afford to charge so little for your service AND to provide unlimited customer support?
We love hearing that question! RWI has worked hard to anticipate the needs of water systems and to make the platform so easy to use, our customers actually have little to no need for additional support. That said, RWI is always here 24/7/365 to help with anything you need.
Q: What if I need help with my site?
RWI provides unlimited customer support. Just call RWI toll-free at 1-888-551-4815 or email any time. RWI is here to help!
Q: My Board doesn't believe me when I tell them how easy and affordable this is. Can you provide me with a demo and a proposal for my next board meeting?
Of course! RWI is happy to create a demo for you to use at your next Board Meeting. You will be able to show your board a live website and demonstrate all the features and benefits our websites have to offer. In addition, RWI will email you a professional proposal with all the pricing and fine print clearly spelled out for your Board of Trustees to consider.
Q: What if we already have a website but would like to move it?
That’s great! RWI will show you how easy it is to move your information to your new website, or even do it for you at no extra charge.
Q: When I need extra help making a change to my website, where do I go?
From your private Client Dashboard, click the “HELP” button to access our online HELP SECTION. Or, you always have the option of contacting us via email or phone and we’re very glad to help.
Q: Will I be able to add my own photos to my website?
Certainly; photos, forms, documents, web links… you can have it all. Step-by-step instructions are located in your Client Dashboard.
Q: Will it require any special skill for me to maintain my site?
No; it's very easy for you to make updates, the online “Help” section is there for you, and RWI also provides unlimited customer support free of charge.
Q: When I need extra help making a change to my website, where do I go?
From your private Client Dashboard, click the “HELP” button to access our online HELP SECTION. Or, you always have the option of contacting RWI via email or phone; RWI is very glad to help.
Q: Many of our customers don’t even use the internet, so do we really need this?
While that may be true now, as we note, the world is rapidly changing. As high-speed internet service continues to expand into rural areas, more and more of your customers will prefer to go online for water system information and the convenience of bill paying. And having a public website allows you to post up-to-date information, helps you to comply with regulations, and builds customer support for your operations. Look at the publication issued by the BC Ministry of Health: Small Water Systems Guidebook. It includes a number of references to use of water system websites and the benefits they bring.
Q: What if I change my mind and decide to cancel after I have signed up and been using the website for a while?
RWI's No Hassle Refund Policy solves that problem. You will receive a full refund if cancelled within the first 30 days. If subscription is cancelled after 30 days, RWI will prorate and refund any pre-paid monthly subscription fees to the website subscriber. The one-time set up fee is non-refundable after 30 days. RWI doesn't believe in contract or cancellation fees.
Q How is the Sustainable Infrastructure Society involved?
The Sustainable Infrastructure Society (SIS) develops resources for community water suppliers throughout Canada. We do this by creating partnerships with specialist service providers such as Rural Water Impact (RWI). RWI is a service provider specializing in the provision of the website subscription service to water suppliers. RWI is responsible directly to you for delivery of the website service, the contract is between you and RWI and SIS acts only a coordinator. The Terms and Conditions on this website explain more about the way we work with service providers